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Shortscale threefin (Norfolkia brachylepis) — Tripterygiidae

Shortscale threefin

Norfolkia brachylepis

The Shortscale threefin (Norfolkia brachylepis) is a saltwater fish of the family Tripterygiidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–25.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The shortscale threefin is a triplefin (Tripterygiidae) from shallow rocky and reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, brown-banded body with three separate dorsal fins and large eyes. As a bottom-dweller it rests on propping pectoral fins on rock and coral rubble and snaps at small crustaceans and algae. It is strongly camouflaged. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shortscale threefin?

The Shortscale threefin has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Shortscale threefin live?

The Shortscale threefin lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Shortscale threefin get?

The Shortscale threefin grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Shortscale threefin dangerous to humans?

No, the Shortscale threefin is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kortschub-drievinslijmvis sourced
English name
Shortscale threefin sourced
Scientific name
Norfolkia brachylepis
Family
Tripterygiidae
Other names
Rough-head triplefin; Scalyfin threefin; Scalyfin triplefin; Scaly-head threefin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Dorsal fins
Three separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Norfolkia

More from the family Tripterygiidae

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